Shoe display tree



Feb. 9, 1965 J. c. BAAS 3,163,753

SHOE DISPLAY TREE Filed March 15. 1963 .4154 Jill (1,4 30

INVENTOR JOHN c. BAAS FIG. 3 Y

TGRNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3 ,168,753 Patented Feb. 9, 19653,168,753 i SHOE DISPLAY TREE John C. Baas, Pittsford, N.Y., assignor toRochester Shoe Tree Co., Inc Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New YorkFiled Mar. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 265,541 8 Claims. (Cl. 12115.6)

This invention relates to an article for use in the display and sale ofshoes. More particularly, the invention relates to a shoe tree having animproved and convenient construction for use in the display of shoesthat are offered for sale.

When shoes are arranged for display to potential buyers, the mostattractive appearance possible must he tion 15 that is formed to project2 11 of the tree in a vertical plane. The back part 12 of the tree ismounted on the bar 14 for spring-opposed slidmg movement toward the forepart 11 of the tree from the normal position shown in the drawing;

The fore part 11 of the tree is formed with a front porinto the toe of ashoe. This front portion is integral with an enlarged central portion 16that is shaped to engage against the inner surfaces of a shoe to fillout the vamp. This central portion 16 in turn is integral with anupwardly projecting part 17 that is formed to engage against the tongueof a presented. For this reason, it is customary to insert in i a shoe,that is to form a part of a display, a special kind of shoe tree that isknown in the trade as a display tree.

A display tree performs the usual function of a shoe tree, of fillingthe shoe out, to have a taut appearance, free from creases and wrinkles.In addition, display trees are usually attractively finished. in smooth,conservative tones, to enhance the appearance of shoes withoutdistracting attention from them.

For Window displays for the retail trade, however, the sign indicatingthe price of apair of shoes is often a greater'distraction than isnecessary, and it is usually set up far enough away from the shoes toshift the prospects focusof attention. Once the prospects attention islost, it may not berecaptured. Another disadvantage of a separate pricetag is that it is extremely difficult to position in such a way that itis informative yet not distracting, so that extra time and thought onthe part of a window dresser is required to make up adisplay.

One object of the present invention is to provide a simple means fordisplaying a price sign with a pair of shoes, that will not divert thefocus of attention of a prospective customer away from'the shoes. I t

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for informing aprospective customerofthe price of a pair of shoes, without requiringthe customer to look away from thepair of shoes to obtain theinformation.

, A further object ,of the invention is to provide neat, compact,attractive means for indicating the price of a pair of shoes in aconvenient, quietly attractive way that is not distractive. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide a new, attractive," andsimplified form of pricelmarker for a pair of display shoes that willsimplify the work of a window dresser. I

after fromthespecification and from the recital of the appended claims;Tothese and other ends, the inven-, tion resides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will hereinafter be more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the endof this specification- In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a display shoe tree and price displaymarker that is constructed in accordance with one embodiment of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof, and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view thereof, partly in section, and on anenlarged scale.

Referring now in detail to the drawing by numerals of reference, thenumeral 10 denotes generally a display tree. This tree comprises a forepart 11 and a back part 12 that are secured together in the usual way bya bar 14. The front end of the bar 14 is secured in the fore part 11 ofthe tree, in the usual way, to permit pivotal movement of the bar 14relative to the fore part contoured to fill the heel part of a shoe.

shoe.

The back part 12 of the tree is formed with a shank portion 20 and witha smoothly rounded heel portion 21, that is generally shaped like ahuman heel and that is The heel portion 21 of the tree is formed, at itsupper end, with a the face 25. This shape of the face forwardlyprojecting lip 22 through which a cylindrical bore 24 extends.- Theupper faceof the heel and of the 11p together form a smooth, flatsurface 25 that is inclined upwardly from its front edge to its rearedge. Three small holes 26 are bored into the face 25, in spacedrelation to each other. A thin, transparent, plastic plate 27 isdisposed over plate 27 is shaped to conform to the 25. It is formed withthree dogs 30'that engage in the holes 26 and that are formed to holdthe plate 27 in place over theface 25;

The plate 27 is also formed with a recess or surface depression 31 thathas a similar contour, in plan view,

- l to that of the plate itself, as shown in FIG. 1; and that 1 Otherobjects ofthe invention will be apparent hereintioned so that. the tag32 is snugly received in the recess 31,

between theconfronting lower surface of the plate 27 andthe flat upperface 25 of thetree.

A tree that is made in accordance with this invention provides aconvenient and'attractive means for displaymg the price of a pair ofshoes, when inserted in one 'of the shoes. Preferably, the shoe stylenumber and its price are written on the tag. 32, and the tag is theninserted in the recess so that this information is readily visiblethrough the plate 27. I

[When the tag 32 must be removed from its recess for any reason, afinger can be inserted throughthe bore 24 to engage the tag and shift itso that part of the tag projectsfrom the recess at the front end of thelug 22, to permit thetag to be grasped and pulled from the recess. \lJhen the tree is to beused in a display where the price is not to beincluded, the tag is removed. Alternatlvely instead of removing the tag,it can bereplaced by apiece of attractively colored cardboard that willen- 'han'ce the overall eifect of the display. Or,--as a further ialternative,the plate 27 can be removed entirely, so that the tree willhave a substantially conventional appearance except for the presence ofthe three small holes 26 in the face 25.

A display tree that is equipped with a price display tag, in accordancewith the present invention, permits the display of a price tag as anintegral part of the display of a pair of shoes, and can convey to aprospective customer pricing and other information without distractingthe eye of the customer away from the display of the shoes themselves.Instead, the customers focus of attention is maintained on the shoes.Moreover, since the price tag and display tree are combined, the task ofthe window dresser is simplified, not only by the elimination of theseparate display stand previously required for the price tag, but alsobecause the window display can be built 7 3 around the shoes themselves,rather than around a three part display consisting of two shoes and aseparate price display sign. a I

While it is preferred that the transparent plastic plate be inounted'ona flat face at the heel of the shoe, it is also possible to form anattractive price display area on the upwardly projecting portion 17 ofthe tree, or alternatively, on a rearward extension of this part of thetree. Moreover, the plate 27 itself can be used to carry printedindicia, to identify the manufacturer or seller of the shoes, or thelike, in some location thereon that will not obstruct the view of theprice tag. I

' While the invention has been disclosed herein by refer- 5 A shoe treecomprising a body having a forward portion and a heel portion, said heelportion being formed ence to the details of a preferred embodimentthereof, it

is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative,rather than in a limiting sense, and it iscontemplated that variousmodifications in the construction and arrangement of the partswillreadily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of theinvention and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: n

1. A shoe tree comprising a forward portion and a pivotally connectedheel portion, said heel portion being formed with a flat, exteriordisplay surface thereon, an

imperforate transparent member for engagement over said surface portion,and means for holding said member over said surface portion, said memberbeing formed with a recess extending inwardly from one edge thereof toconfront said surface portion and formed to removably receive a displaycard therein. 1

2. A shoe tree comprising a forward portion and a pivotally connectedheel portion, said heel portion being formed with a relatively thin lipportion and with a fiat display surface that extends over at least apart of said lip portion, a transparent, rigid member for engagementover said surface, said member being formed with a with a forwardlyprojecting lip at its upper end, said heel portion having a fiat,exterior display surface thereon that extends over at least a part ofsaid lip, a thin, transparent, rigid synthetic plastic member forengagement over said surface and that is generally shaped to conformclosely to the contour of said surface, said member being formed with arecess confronting said surface and formed toreceive a display cardtherein, the recess in said cover member'extending to one edge thereofto permit the insertion and withdrawal of a display card in and fromsaidrecess respectively at said edge, said lip being formed with anopening therethrough that opens through said flat surface to provideaccess to a card in said recess to facilitate removal of a display cardfrom said recess,- said body being formed with a plurality of spacedholes in said surface,. and said member havinga plurality of fingersthat are disposed to project from one face of said member for insertionin said holes respectively to hold said member in place over saidsurface.

6. A shoe tree comprising a forward portion and a heel' portion formedwith an upwardly extending part having thereon a substantially flatdisplay surface, a transparent member for engagement over said surface,said member being formed with a recess confronting said sur-- face andformed to removably receive a display card therein, and means forholding said member over said surface. 7

7. A shoe tree comprising a forward portion and a pivotally connectedheel portion, said heel portion being formed with an upwardly extendingpart having thereon a substantially flat display surface, an imperforatetrans parent member .for engagement over said surface, said recess thatis disposed to confront said surface and that a is formed to removablyreceive adisplay card therein between said member and said surface,'said recess extending to one edge of said member to permit theinsertion and withdrawal of a display card in and from said recessrespectively at said edge, and means for holding said member over saidsurface.

- 3; A shoe tree in accordance with claim 2 wherein said lip portion isformed with an opening that extends through said lip portion and thatopens through said flat surface to provide access to a display card insaid recess to facilitate its removal.

4. A shoe tree comprising a forward portion and 'a heel portion, saidheel portion being formed with a relatively thin lip having a flatexterior display surface that extends over atleast a part of said lip, athin, transparent,

rigid member for engagement over said surface, said' member being formedwith a recess confronting said surface and formed to removably receive adisplay card therein, said body being formed with a plurality of spacedholes in said surface, and said member having a plurality of fingersthat are disposed to project from .one face of said member for insertionin said holes respectively to hold said member in place;

member having one sidethereof formed with a. surface depressionconfronting said surface and formed to removably receive a display cardtherein, and rr'ieans for holding said member over said surface.

' 8. A shoe tree having the construction specified in claim 7, said heelportion being formed with a plurality of spaced holes in saidsurface andsaid'mer'nber being formed with a plurality of fingers projecting fromone face of saidmember for insertion in said holes to secure said memberon said heel portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 463,500 11/91Follenius, 40- 10 1,115,320 10/14 Legge -Q Ila-128 1,729,961 10/29Partridge 4 0 -10 1,658,475 2/28 Breuer V 12 -128 1,768,674 7/30 Egan40-16 2,214,030 9/40 Pereles' 40-40 2,540,951 2/51 Kellems 40 103,112,966 12/63 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

Reid 40 -l6X v

1. A SHOE TREE COMPRISING A FORWARD PORTION AND A PIVOTALLY CONNECTEDHEEL PORTION, SAID HEEL PORTION BEING FORMED WITH A FLAT, EXTERIORDISPLAY SURFACE THEREON, AN IMPERFORATE TRANSPARENT MEMBER FORENGAGEMENT OVER SAID SURFACE PORTION, AND MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID MEMBEROVER SAID SURFACE PORTION, SAID MEMBER BEING FORMED WITH A RECESSEXTENDING INWARDLY FROM ONE EDGE THEREOF